The Lost Trail | Page 9

Tom to come to the house, and was always so mighty kind to him that he used to kiss and shpark her by way of compinsating her for her trouble. She used to take this all very well, for she was a great admirer of Tom's, and always spoke his praise. But Tom didn't make much headway with Kitty. It wasn't often that he could saa her, and when he did; she was mighty offish, and was sure to have the owld woman present, like a dumb-waiter, to be sure. She come to tell him at length that she didn't admire his coming, and that he would greatly plaise her if he would make his visits by staying away altogether. The next time Tom went he found the door locked, and, after hammering a half-hour, and being towld there was no admittance, he belaved it was meant as a kind hint that his company was not agreeable. Be yees listening, ye riptile?
"Tom might have stood it very well, if another chap hadn't begun calling on Kitty about this time. He used to go airly in the evening, and not come out of the house till after midnight, so that one might belave his visits were welcome. This made Tom feel mighty bad, and so he hid behind the wall and waylaid the chap one night. He would have killed the chap, his timper was so ruffled, if the man hadn't nearly killed him afore he had the chance. He laid all night in the gutter, and was just able to crawl home next day, while the fellow went a-courting the next night, as if nothing had happened.
"Tom begun to git melancholy, and his mouth didn't appear quite as broad as usual. Molly Mulligan thought he had taken slow poison and it was gradually working through his system; but he could ate his pick of praties the same as iver. But Tom felt mighty bad; that fact can't be denied, and he went frequently to consult with a praist that lived near this ind of Limerick, and who was knowed to cut up a trick or two during his lifetime. When Tom came out one day looking bright and cheery, iverybody belaved they had been conspiring togither, and had hit on some thavish trick they was to play on little Kitty McGuire.
"When the moon was bright, Kitty used to walk to Limerick and back again of an evening. Her beau most likely went with her, but sometimes she preferred to go alone, as she knowed no one would hurt a bonny little gal as herself. Tom knowed of these doings, as in days gone by he had jined her once or twice. So one night he put a white sheet around him as she was coming back from Limerick, and hid under the little bridge over the brook. It was gitting quite late, and the moon was just gone down, so, when she stepped on the bridge, and he came out afore her, she gave one shriek, and like to have fainted intirely.
"'Make no noise, or I'll ate ye up alive,' said Tom, trying to talk like a ghost.
"'What isht yees want?' she asked, shaking like a leaf, 'and who are yees?'
"'I'm a shpirit, come to warn ye of your ill-doings.'
"'I know I'm a great sinner,' she cried, covering her face with her hands; 'but I try to do as well as I can.'
"'Do you know Tom O'Reilly?' he asked, loud enough to be heard in Limerick. 'You have treated him ill.'
"'That I know I have,' she sobbed, 'and how can I do him justice?'
"'He loves you.'
"'I know he does!'
"'He is a shplendid man, and will make a much bitter husband than the spalpeen that ye now looks on with favor.'
"'Shall I make him my husband?'
"'Yis; if ye wish to save yourself from purgatory. If the other man marries yees, he'll murder yees the same night.'
"'Oh!' shrieked the gal, as if she'd go down upon the ground, 'and how shall I save meself?'
"'By marrying Tom O'Reilly.'
"'Is that the only way?'
"'Ay. Does yees consint?'
"'I do; I must do poor Tom justice.'
"'Will ye marry him this same night?'
"'That I will.'
"'Tom is hid under this bridge; I'll go down and bring him up, and he'll go to the praist's with yees. Don't ye shtir or I'll ate yees.'
"So Tom whisked under the ind of the bridge, slipped off the sheet, all the time kaaping one eye cocked above to saa that Kitty didn't give him the shlip. He then came up and spoke very smilingly to the gal, as though he hadn't seen her afore that night. He didn't think that his voice was jist the same.
"Kitty didn't say much, but she walked very quiet by his side, till they came to the praist's